Fennessy, Edward (Oral history)

British civilian radar expert worked with Air Ministry, 1938-1940; officer served with 60 Group, RAF in GB, 1940-1945

REEL 1 Background in East Ham, London, GB, 1912-1934: family; education. Aspects of employment with Standard Telephones and Cables in Woolwich, London, GB, 1934-1938: developing filter for defensive acoustic detectors. Recollections of period as civilian radar expert with Air Ministry in GB, 1938-1940: circumstances of recruitment to Air Ministry 1938; arrival at Bawdsey Manor and first briefing on radio direction finding installation of RDF filter operations room at Fighter Command, Bentley Priory autumn 1938; background to Watson Watt's early RDF work; pre war development of chain home system; Fennessy's work on communication system to link CH stations into Fighter Command; his development of 'one in one' system to synchronise RDF stations; pressure of political events on work 1938-1939; informality of work regime at Bawdsey Manor; leadership qualities of A P Rowe; Prime Minister Winston Churchill's interest in RDF and visit to RAF Martlesham Heath and Bawdsey Manor spring 1940; Prime Minister Winston Churchill's comments on primitive nature of Observer Corps' work; Graf Zeppelin's monitoring of CH stations 2/8/1938; proposals to relocate Bawdsey Manor research unit on outbreak of war; Fennessy's plan to move planning and construction of Chain Home stations to Carlton House, Leighton Buzzard (Base Maintenance HQ, RAF Group 60); degree of awareness of German radar developments; monitoring Graf Zeppelin reconnaissance flight 2/8/1939. REEL 2 Continues: story of monitoring reconnaissance flight of Graf Zeppelin 2/8/1939; British assumption of German awareness of Bawdsey Manor and Chain Home stations and consequent precautionary measures; post war discussion with German chief signals officer, General Martini about Graf Zeppelin flight and its inaccurate intelligence; circumstances of move to Ministry of Aircraft Production at Harrogate, Yorks as procurement officer late 1940; discontent with appointment and recruitment as officer to 60 Group, RAF at Leighton Buzzard with responsibility for planning and construction of Chain Home stations. Recollections of period as officer with 60 Group, RAF in GB, 1940-1945: extension and upgrading of Chain Home stations; German attempt to destroy Chain Home stations, 12/8/1940 and Goering's failure to recognise their importance; extent of Chain Home chain by 1941; intelligence aims of Bruneval raid 2/1942; security move of Telecommunications Research Establishment from Swanage to Malvern 1942; Bomber Command problems in locating targets 1940-1942; value of A P Rowe's 'Sunday Soviets' discussion group; origins of Gee system in Robert Dippy's work at Bawdsey 1938-1939; working of Gee system as navigational aid; Fennessy's work on network of Gee chains 1941-1942; role of Gee in navigating bomber force to target; aspects of planning, construction and personnel recruitment to implement Gee system. REEL 3 Continues: responsibility for use of Gee throughout war; initial rejection of Alec Reeves'concept for Oboe system of target precision; Fennessy's involvement in Oboe station system; vital role of De Havilland Mosquito in operational use of Oboe; discussion with General Martini about first use of Oboe to devastate Krupp factory at Essen, 3/1943 and story of Goering's suppression of suspected new British radar from Hitler; range limitation of Oboe; attitude towards D-Day; Fennessy's plan for Oboe and Gee coverage of Cherbourg Peninsula,consequent security reprimand and being 'bigoted'; extension of Oboe and Gee systems and formation of 72 Wing for mobile radar; work of 72 Wing in pushing forward Gee and Oboe coverage into Germany, 1944; advance knowledge of Ardennes offensive from Oboe station, 12/1944, ordering retreat of unit and breaking news to 2nd Tactical Air Force; planning network of Gee chains from GB to Singapore from 5/1945. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of work as radar expert in GB 1939-1946: dropping of atomic bomb ending work on Gee network to Far East, 8/1945; post war radar work with Decca Coy; Geoffrey Roberts' pre war invention at Bawdsey Manor of 'fruit machine' for converting radar signals to grid references for Fighter Command.